What Is Paediatric Occupational Therapy? 

Occupational therapy (OT) helps children to develop the skills they need to engage in their everyday life roles. This might include self-care, school and play. OT can also help improve fine motor skills, which in turn can boost confidence and self-esteem. 

At KidsOT, we focus on paediatric occupational therapy. This means that we work with children aged 0-18 years old. Our aim is to help them grow and learn in a fun and stimulating environment. We evaluate each child and provide targeted interventions to help improve their fine motor skills. This, in turn, allows them to participate more fully in the activities that are important to them. 

What Are the Benefits of Paediatric Occupational Therapy? 

Paediatric occupational therapy can help children to develop their coping skills, as well as their fine motor skills, sensory processing and handwriting skills. 

Fine motor skills are the small muscles in the hands and fingers that are used for activities such as grasping, manipulating and cutting. Occupational therapy can help to improve these skills, which in turn will help children to be more independent with tasks such as self-care, schoolwork and play. 

Sensory processing is the way in which the brain interprets information that is received from the senses. Occupational therapy can help to improve sensory processing, which in turn can help children to understand and react to sensory information more effectively. This can lead to an improved sense of balance and coordination, as well as a better sense of taste, smell, touch, sound and sight. 

Handwriting is an important skill that is often practised during occupational therapy sessions. Occupational therapy can help to improve handwriting skills by improving hand strength and dexterity, as well as teaching children the correct way to hold a pen or pencil. 

Common Strategies Used in Paediatric Occupational Therapy in Australia 

There are a few common strategies used in paediatric occupational therapy in Australia. One of these is occupational task analysis, which is where the OT breaks down a task into its individual steps so that they can better understand how the child performs it. They can then provide interventions to help the child do it better, or teach them new ways to complete the task. 

Another common strategy is called perceptual-motor assessment and treatment. This involves assessing and treating the child’s sensory processing issues, so that they can better understand and react to their environment. OTs may use a range of methods to do this, such as therapeutic play, sensory integration therapy, or special equipment and props. 

Finally, many OTs use a behavioural strategy known as positive reinforcement. This involves rewarding the child for completing tasks or behaving in a desired way, with the goal of encouraging them to repeat the behaviour. 

Occupational Therapy Activities to Improve Coping Skills 

Paediatric occupational therapists use activities of daily living and occupations to help children and teenagers with their mental health. From home-based activities like brushing teeth and taking a shower, to fun and creative tasks like crafts, music, drama and cooking, the range of activities helps children to learn in the most natural way. 

Sensory strategies and sensory play are used to aid in coping. Strategies that involve movement, such as running or jumping on a trampoline can help children regulate their emotions in a safe way. Other activities like yoga or drawing can help children express themselves when they’re feeling overwhelmed or anxious. 

Occupational therapy can also teach children cognitive strategies that help them remain in control during stressful situations. These strategies involve breaking down big problems into smaller steps which makes them seem less daunting, while also helping the child focus on one task at a time. By using this approach kids can tackle difficult tasks with ease and develop effective coping skills along the way. 

How Long Does Paediatric Occupational Therapy Take? 

When seeking help for your child, you may be wondering how long Paediatric Occupational Therapy will take. It depends on the needs of your child—for some children, treatment may be short. In other cases, treatment will take a longer time depending on the speed of your child’s development. 

The length of each therapy session also plays a role in determining how long treatment will take. Sessions are typically between 30 and 90 minutes, depending on the age and needs of the child. Typically, each session is tailored to the individual’s goals and can target several areas simultaneously. 

It’s important to remember that Paediatric Occupational Therapy seeks to improve a child’s engagement in life roles such as self-care, school and play so as to enhance their confidence, self-esteem, social skills and general wellbeing; so it’s possible that treatment may take more than one session to help children realise their potential. 

Questions to Consider When Selecting a KidsOT Practitioner like Spring Forward Family Centre 

When selecting a KidsOT practitioner like Spring Forward Family Centre, there are some questions you can ask to make sure they’ll be the right fit for your child. First, what is the therapist’s experience with paediatric occupational therapy specifically? Do they have any specialisations in working with children and their unique needs? 

Additionally, you should make sure the therapist is knowledgeable in sensory processing disorder (SPD) and can offer an evaluation if needed. Furthermore, it’s important to ask about the kinds of activities the therapist works on with children to help them develop coping skills. Does the therapist use play-based therapies? What kind of progress do they typically see with their clients within a certain time frame? Are there any non-traditional therapies used to help children meet their goals? 

Answering these questions will help you find a KidsOT practitioner that’s well-suited to your child’s needs. And by working with an experienced paediatric OT like Spring Forward Family Centre, you can rest assured your child is in good hands. 

Conclusion 

So if you’re worried about your child’s development, or you feel they could benefit from some extra help in one or more areas, it might be worth considering paediatric occupational therapy. OT can help children to learn the skills they need to do the things they want and need to do, both now and in the future.